the heart-stopping moment that makes us (or me) sense something of greatness

I think this captures something of my own feelings on art. To me, a work of art points beyond itself, and often takes me beyond myself, enhancing my sense of wonder. It's an extremely valid function of art to take something supposedly mundane and make the audience look at it again with new eyes. The distinction is that phart often tries to do so too hard and too consciously.

We shouldn't take enlightenment too seriously. Awe and laughter are surprisingly close.